Black people and Mormonism
Videos
During the history of the Latter Day Saint movement, the relationship between Black people and Mormonism has included enslavement, exclusion and inclusion, and official and unofficial discrimination.
Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, expressed a range of views about Black people throughout his life.
Elijah Abel was an early LDS priesthood leader in the quorum of the seventy.
Noah cursing Ham. Smith and Young taught that Black people had the curse of Ham and the curse of Cain.
Biddy Mason was one of 14 Black people who sued for their freedom after being illegally held captive by white Mormons in San Bernardino, California.
Brigham Young
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Brigham Young was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877. He also served as the f
Black people and Mormonism
…were less righteous in premortal life (before birth). Mormonism founder Joseph Smith and his successor as church president with the most followers, Brigham Young, both taught that the skin color of Black people was the result of the curses of Cain and Ham. During the 20th century, many LDS leaders opposed the…
Young, c. 1865
The five sons of John and Abigail Young. From left to right: Lorenzo Dow, Brigham, Phineas H., Joseph, and John.
Chair made by Young, who was a carpenter early in his life
1853 daguerreotype of Young